International Baccalaureate Statewide AlignmentProgress Report

Bob TurnerApril 15, 2009

Statewide alignment of post-secondary credit for International Baccalaureate coursesand diploma

This work will result in alignment of post-secondary credits to be awarded for International Baccalaureatecourses and diplomas across the 17 community colleges and the 7 OUS institutions in a manner analogous to the statewide alignment of Advanced Placement and Dual Credit courses. Since the last UEE meeting, the IB Working Group has been assembled with representation from each of the OUS campuses that have an IB Admission Policy in place, community college and high school representatives with IB experience, and UEE staff;

International Baccalaureate Alignment Working Group

Herb / Chereck / Associate Vice President for Enrollment Services / University of Oregon
Celeste / Colasurdo / International Baccalaureate Coordinator / Southridge High School
Connie / Green / Staff
(Policy Advisor) / Unified Education Enterprise
(CCWD)
Don / McNair / Executive Dean
Academic Affairs - Transfer / Lane Community College
Robert / Mercer / Senator
(Assistant Dean Liberal Arts & Sciences) / Interinstitutional Faculty Senate
(Portland State University)
Kent / Neely / Provost / Western Oregon University
Michele / Sandlin / Director, Office of Admissions / Oregon State University
Bob / Turner / Staff
(Special Assistant to the Chancellor) / Unified Education Enterprise
(Oregon University System)

All members of the working group have been provided background on the nature of IB programs and the enrollment in IB courses in Oregon high schools and post-secondary institution. Achieving statewide IB alignment will require agreement on the post-secondary credits to be awarded for individual IB courses and for the IB diploma. Robert Mercer supplied the working group a tabulation of credits awarded for individual IB courses at OUS institutions and a number of other universities; deciding on alignment of course credits is seen to be a straightforward process. Achieving statewide alignment of credits for the IB diploma, which will be a more involved process, was conceptually simplified when Connie Green used the following diagram to position the IB diploma for the members of the working group.

Oregon routes to a post-secondary four year degree

Accelerated Courses / Course Blocks with Common
General Education Outcomes
(High school courses with post-secondary credit) / Aligned, transferable
1 year units / Aligned, transferable
2 year unit / Four year post- secondary degree
Dual Credit / OTM
AP / IB Diploma / AAOT
IB Certificate (credit)

Once provided this framework for considering the IB diploma, it was determined that additional information is needed on the parallels between the educational outcomes of the IB diploma and the Oregon Transfer Module, on the academic areas that are well covered by the IB diploma, and on the post-secondary progress of IB students relative to “non-IB” high school students with similar highs school grade point averages. This information is being collected and will serve as the foundation for the discussions at the next meeting of the IB Statewide Alignment Working Group.

Some thumbnail information on IB students & courses

  1. Number of IB students
  2. Students in IB courses = 12,364 in 36 high schools
  3. (26% in 2 High Schools, 61% in 7 High Schools, 85% in 12 High Schools)
  1. Students in AP courses = 5491 in 148 high schools
  1. Since fall 2005:
  2. 625 IB students received some university credits at OSU, WOU or UO
  3. 552 still enrolled
  1. IB students
  2. graduate at much higher rate and higher University GPA than average University student
  1. IB Diploma:
  2. 1 course in each of 6 areas + minimum score on final exam in each area
  3. Current policy: OSU & WOU 45 credits
  1. Courses:
  2. Rather uniform granting of credits for minimum final exam scores on IB courses
  3. 5 of OUS campuses, 2 have no policy, CCs have so few IB students they’ll adopt OUS policy